Make Instead of Buy
Things We Make Instead Of Buy To Save Money On Groceries
One of the biggest things that’s helped us cut our grocery bill is actually really simple… We just started making a few things ourselves instead of buying them.
Not everything – just the easy things that don’t take much time, but save a surprising amount of money over the week.
When you’re feeding a big family, those little swaps really add up.
We’re definitely not a “make everything from scratch” kind of family.
Life is just too busy for that.
But there are a few things we make regularly because:
• They’re easy
• We already have the ingredients
• And they actually save money
Milk
If we’re running low on milk, I don’t always go to the shop.
I’ll just make up powdered milk, or sometimes mix it with fresh milk (and water) if I know it’ll be used quickly.
It’s one of those small things that doesn’t feel like much at the time – but it saves an extra trip to the store (which always ends up costing more than planned.
Cream Cheese
This one surprised me.
I used to always buy cream cheese, but now I just make it if I need it, mostly for baking.
It does not taste exactly like Philly cheese, so it’s not always that great in dips. But it works a charm in baking and cooking!
It’s quick, it’s easy, and I usually already have everything I need.
Pesto
Pesto is another one.
I don’t follow a strict recipe – I just use what I have.
Sometimes basil from the garden, almonds instead of the more expensive nuts… whatever works.
It still tastes great, and it’s so much cheaper than buying it.
Sweetened Condensed Milk
We’ve found that the home made version is half the price as the shop one!
Instead of buying tins, I make it using sugar, water and milk powder.
It makes a big batch (about 5 cups), and works out way cheaper than buying cans.
What I’ve Learned
We’re not trying to do everything perfectly.
We’re just trying to be a bit more intentional with what we spend.
Making a few things from scratch has helped us:
• Rely less on quick store trips
• Use what we already have
• Keep our grocery budget more under control.
And honestly, once you get into the habit, it becomes second nature.
What some of my subscribers have said
[row_inner_3] [col_inner_3 span=”4″ span__sm=”12″]“I only use powdered milk now – it doesn’t go to waste and works perfectly.”[/col_inner_3] [col_inner_3 span=”4″ span__sm=”12″]
“I love how versatile it is – you can make so many things form it.” (Milk Powder)[/col_inner_3] [col_inner_3 span=”4″ span__sm=”12″]
“Such a good way to save money without overcomplicating things”[/col_inner_3] [/row_inner_3] [row_inner_3] [col_inner_3 span__sm=”12″]
